title: Characteristics of suicide notes of children and young adolescents: an examination of the notes from suicide victims 15 years and younger.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  By analysing the suicide notes from suicide victims 15 years and younger, we attempt to gain insight into the process leading to youth suicide and explore the characteristics of the note writers.
  
  
  METHODS
  During a psychological autopsy on 42 youths, we were entrusted with 23 suicide notes in which we explored the themes and compared the note writers to the non-note writers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The key messages were as follows: explain the reason for suicide, declare love and give instructions. The note writers had showed suicidal behaviour more frequently than non-note writers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the notes from youth suicide victims they present themselves as fully responsible and without confusion or overwhelming despair. The notes are likely equally informative as the notes of older victims.
authors.affiliation: University of Oslo, Norway Sørlandet Hospital, Norway anne.freuchen@sshf.no.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Freuchen
authors.affiliation: University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Berit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Grøholt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D058445:Bullying; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Suicide notes; adolescents; children; youths